Bodywork & Contact Improvisation w Scott Wells

I usually love the contact dances that begin with bodywork. Perhaps it’s the enhanced listening, connection, ease and pleasure. Bodywork is an excellent resource for changing patterns and dropping into different states. Much of Contact Improv is getting out of your own way—some of which is hidden in tension patterns. S. Paxton says, “tension masks sensation”. And sensation is the language of contact, at least it’s how we listen. And how we hang out in the present moment. We’ll do specific bodywork that invites you to drop unnecessary tension. Shoulders like butter We’ll do bodywork that challenges us to be awake (in the proprioceptive or joint systems) while we relax the muscles and busy head. Much of what we do will be exercises I’ve learned or created over the decades of taking and giving workshops: (40 years of investigation and indulgence.) We’ll work with both structural and functional modalities such as Alexander Technique and Shiatsu and draw on BMC. And monkey bodywork. Many of the practices I’ve learned came out of and were designed for contact improvisation. Contractors are natural bodyworkers as we practice being in our own bodies and listening to other bodies. No need to bring a partner. We will switch partners often. When we need to up our energy we’ll explore bodywork in conjunction with acrobatics. Scott Wells has directed a dance company in San Francisco for 27 years, practiced contact improvisation for 38 years, studied Alexander Technique for 25 years and BMC for 20 years. May 5, 10am-3pm at Flowspace in Emeryville $95 Early bird rate: $20 off by 4/20!